Portable lift

ABSTRACT

A personal assisting device that helps a person return to the standing position after they have been seated on a toilet. The assisting device is adapted for attachment to almost any toilet. The toilet&#39;s seat is removed, the assisting device is slid around the toilet&#39;s bowl, and the seat is re-attached to the device. A control switch is provided that allows the user to move the device&#39;s flexible chair frame from the seated position to the raised position. When the flexible chair frame is in the raised position, the user is assisted to the standing position. Two electric motors are used to move the device between the seated and raised positions, in the preferred embodiment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of personal assisting devices and more specifically to a lifting device for assisting a person off of a toilet and to a standing position.

Injuries and old age are two reasons why a person may need assistance in getting up from a seated position. Injuries to a person's foot, leg or hip can prevent the person from being able to stand on his own. Other reasons include the natural aging process. As people age, muscles are no longer able to lift the same weight they used to, and joints do not operate as smoothly as they once did. For any of these reasons, or for a combination of them, many people need help in the process of standing from a seated position.

Home therapy has come a long way in recent years. There are many assisting devices, such as walkers with wheels, and benches that can be placed in bathtubs. However, in regards to assisting devices used in the bathroom for helping a person to the standing position, the choices have thus far been limited to bars or rails on the wall, or the impromptu use of a cane or walker.

What is needed in the field is an automated device that can assist a person to a standing position from a seated position. The ideal device could be added to any standard toilet without impairing the main functions of the toilet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An assisting device that is adapted for attachment to a toilet, wherein the device is able to assist a person seated on the toilet to a standing position. The assisting device comprises a stationary base, a flexible chair frame and a lifting mechanism. The stationary base has a top and a bottom, and the top of the base includes a front portion and a back portion. The flexible chair frame surrounds the bowl and is able to flex between a seated position and a raised position. The flexible chair frame comprises a leg section, a seat section, and a backrest section. The bottom of the leg section is attached the front portion of the base, and the top of the leg section is rotate-ably attached to the front of the seat section. The back of the seat section is rotate-ably attached to the bottom of the backrest section.

The lifting mechanism converts electrical energy into the mechanical power needed to move the flexible chair frame between the seated and raised positions. In the preferred embodiment, the lifting mechanism comprises two electric motors with each motor being mechanically connected to a nut/screw combination. The nuts are permanently attached to opposite sides of the backrest section of the flexible chair frame. The electric motors are attached to the back portion of the stationary base and the screws extend from the motors through their respective nuts on the flexible chair frame. A control switch that controls operation of the electric motors is located on the chair frame. At least one power cord is provided for supplying electrical power to the motors.

The flexible chair frame may also include an arm rest section that is rotatably attached to the flexible chair frame and the control switch can be located on the arm rest section. The control switch includes a first position that causes the flexible chair frame to move to the seated position and a second position that causes the flexible chair frame to move to the raised position. The person seated on the toilet is at least partially assisted to the standing position when the flexible chair frame is moved to the raised position.

The stationary base has a general “U” shape that allows the base to be slid around the bottom of the toilet, which allows the flexible chair frame to surround the bowl of the toilet. The stationary base optionally includes a foot rest that is attached to and extends from the front portion of the base. The stationary base preferably includes adjustable footings that allow the level of the base to be adjusted.

It is an object of the present invention to assist a person, from a seated position, to a standing position.

It is a further object to provide an automated assisting device that can be attached to most toilets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention of the present application will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, given only by way of example, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment in operational position;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the preferred embodiment in the seated position;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the preferred embodiment in the raised position;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the screw drive engagement mechanism; and,

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a pivot point of the flexible chair frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment 100 of the present portable lift in its operational position, around a toilet 105. The present portable lift is designed to assist a person seated on the toilet 105 to a standing position. The base 155 of the portable lift has a “U” shape that allows the preferred embodiment 100 to slide around the bowl portion of the toilet 105. The preferred embodiment 100 can be added to almost any toilet by detaching the toilet seat from the toilet, sliding the potable lift around the bowl portion of the toilet, and re-attaching the toilet seat to the portable lift. The preferred embodiment 100 includes a flexible chair frame that surrounds the bowl portion the toilet 105. The flexible chair frame includes two vertical support legs 110 & 115, three horizontal support pieces 120, 125 & 130, and an up-side-down “U” shaped backrest 135. The back legs of the flexible chair frame are actually two long screws, including screw 145. Each screw is mechanically attached to the base 155 of the portable lift by an electric motor. Screw 145 is mechanically connected to electric motor 140. Electric motor 140 includes a power cord 141, which is adapted for plugging into a standard electrical outlet. Each screw, or back leg, of the flexible chair frame extends upward from the base 155 through a nut that is permanently attached to the backrest 135. Screw 145 extends upward through nut 150. Nut 150 is attached to one side of the backrest 135. The second nut, through which the second screw is threaded, is attached to the opposite side of backrest 135.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the preferred embodiment 100 in the seated position. The present portable lift includes three main sections: the adjustable base section 210; the lifting mechanism 205; and the flexible chair frame section 200. The adjustable base section 210 includes the base 155, multiple threaded footings 215, and a footrest 220. The footings 215 are preferably threaded through the four corners of the base 155 and allow the base to be adjusted so that the portable lift 100 can be fitted over and around toilets of almost any height. The bottom of the footrest 220 may optionally include one or more springs for the comfort of the user. The lifting mechanism includes electric motor 140, screw 145, and nut 150. In the preferred embodiment, the lifting mechanism also includes a second electric motor, screw and nut, which are located on the opposite side of the base 155 and are visible in FIG. 1. The flexible chair frame section 200 includes vertical support leg 110, horizontal support piece 120, and backrest 135. The vertical support leg 110 is rotate-ably attached to the horizontal support piece 120 at joint 111. The horizontal support piece 120 is rotate-ably attached to the backrest 135 at joint 122. In the preferred embodiment, the flexible chair frame also includes an armrest 225. The armrest 225 is also designed to flex between seated and raised positions. The back portion of the armrest 225 is rotate-ably attached to the backrest 135, at joint 123. The front part of the armrest 225 is rotate-ably attached to an armrest support 224. The armrest support 224 is rotate-ably attached to the horizontal support piece 120 at joint 121. The lifting mechanism 205 is controlled by a switch that is preferably located on the armrest 225. When the control switch is moved from a first position to a second position, each electric motor turns its respective screw causing the screws to withdraw from their respective nuts. Since the bottoms of the screws are attached to the base, the screws cannot move downward, and the nuts are forced upward along the lengths of their respective screws. Further, since the nuts, including nut 150, are permanently attached to the backrest 135, the backrest and the horizontal support pieces, including piece 120, are also forced upward. FIG. 3 shows the chair frame in the raised position.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the preferred embodiment 100 in the raised position. Since the front of the flexible chair frame, including leg 110, are permanently attached to the base 155, the front of the chair frame does not move upward and the back half of the chair frame is forced upward and forward when moved to the raised position. This direction of movement is ideal for assisting a person seated on the chair frame to a standing position. The user can also push off of the armrests in order to gain further assistance to the standing position. At the appropriate time, the user can move the control switch back to the first position and the lifting mechanism will run in reverse until the flexible chair frame is back in the seated position, shown in FIGS. 1 & 2. When the switch is returned to the first position, the electric motor 140 causes the screw 145 to turn so that the nut 150 is pulled back down the length of the screw 145. This movement of the nut 150 causes the backrest 135 and attached horizontal support pieces, including piece 120, to return to their seated positions. The lifting mechanism includes at least one of the well-known automatic stop mechanisms, including timers and micro-switches, for stopping the motors at appropriate times.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the screw/nut engagement mechanism. The back leg of the flexible chair frame, or screw 145, is threaded through the nut 150, which is attached to the backrest of the chair frame, so that the threads on the exterior of the screw engage with the threads within the interior of the nut. Screws and bolts take advantage of an incline, which allows movement of a great amount of weight with relatively little effort. Thus, the electric motors that are used to turn the screws, or back legs of the chair frame, can be small enough to fit within the outline of the base of the present portable lift.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the joint 121, which connects the armrest support 224 to the horizontal support piece 120 and allows each pieces to rotate independently of the other. The joint 121 comprises a cotter pin 500 that extends through both the armrest support 224 and the horizontal support piece 120. The cotter pin 500 also prevents the two pieces from coming into contact with each other by maintaining a predefined gap between the two pieces, 224 & 120. The armrest support 224 is held in place by bolt 505, and horizontal support piece 120 is held in place by bolt 510. Both bolts 505 & 510 are intended to create a seal with and apply pressure to the cotter pin 500.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology of terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 

1. An assisting device that is adapted for attachment to a toilet, wherein the device is able to assist a person seated on the toilet to a standing position, the assisting device comprising: a stationary base, the stationary base having a top and a bottom, and wherein the top of the base has a front portion and a back portion; a flexible chair frame that is able to flex between a seated position and a raised position, the flexible chair frame comprising a leg section, a seat section, and a backrest section, wherein a bottom of the leg section is attached the front portion of the base, a top of the leg section is rotate-ably attached to a front of the seat section, and a back of the seat section is rotate-ably attached to a bottom of the backrest section; and, a lifting mechanism that is able to move the chair frame between the seated and raised positions, the lifting mechanism comprising a nut, a screw, an electric motor capable of turning the screw, a control switch that controls operation of the electric motor and a power cord that is adapted for plugging into an electrical outlet, wherein the nut is permanently attached to the backrest section of the chair frame, the electric motor is attached to the back portion of the stationary base and the screw extends from the electric motor through the nut.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the lifting mechanism includes a second electric motor, a second screw and a second nut, and wherein the second nut is permanently attached to the backrest section of the chair frame, the second electric motor is attached to the back portion of the stationary base and the second screw extends from the second electric motor through the second nut, and further wherein the control switch also controls operation of the second electric motor.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the flexible chair frame further comprises an arm rest section that is rotate-ably attached to the flexible chair frame and wherein the control switch is located on the arm rest section.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the control switch includes a first position that causes the flexible chair frame to move to the seated position and a second position that causes the flexible chair frame to move to the raised position, and wherein the person seated on the toilet is at least partially assisted to the standing position when the flexible chair frame is in the raised position.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the stationary base has a general “U” shape that allows the base to be slid around a bottom of the toilet so that the flexible chair frame surrounds a bowl of the toilet.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the stationary base includes a foot rest that is attached to and extends from the front portion of the base.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the stationary base includes adjustable footings that allow a level of the base to be adjusted.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the leg section includes two vertical support legs.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the seat section includes three horizontal support bars.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the backrest section includes an up-side-down “U” shaped support member and a backrest cushion. 